So I just finally got my rebuilt engine to start up and idle, I was holding the accelerator on to keep the rpm up to keep it from dying right at about 1500rpm. I noticed that the oil pressure gauge went up pretty high. Now I bought this car with a blown engine and it is my first rx7 so I dont know where the pressure should be at, and I am a bit worried. The needle was between 60 and 110, id say probably at about 75-80 psi at aroudn 1500rpm. Is this too high? or is it a result of the fact that i just rebuilt the engine?.

As a side note i also had a good bit of smoke coming out from the turbo-area of the engine, im thinking that it is due to me reusing the old exhaust manifold to turbo gasket and its not sealing correctly but could it be related to the high oil pressure?

 

rebuilt engines will smoke at first, burning off assembly lube. stock oil psi gauge sucks pretty bad, but 85 psi is fine, RB sells the 85psi oil pressure regulator as an upgrade, it's fine to run that high on stock bearings, just as long as it's not climbing to up around 95-100 psi.

 

The gauge is probably reading incorrectly.

Smoke is often due to all kinds of oil and assembly lube spilled during the rebuild.